STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The residents of Ward 48 in Guwahati are struggling to cope with severe infrastructural challenges, despite the Guwahati Municipal Corporation’s (GMC) promise to turn the area into a “model ward.” Chronic waterlogging, clogged drains, incomplete construction projects, and inadequate street lighting have left residents frustrated and demanding urgent action.
“The waterlogging here is infamous. The situation has worsened ever since they connected the drains from Beltola’s Wireless area to ours. Earlier, they attempted to construct a sluice gate, but it failed due to the water level exceeding the gate’s capacity. They abandoned the project and built a wall instead. Now, the water has nowhere to go, leaving us to deal with severe flooding,” explained Kamleswar Baruah, a resident.
The issue of waterlogging has been further exacerbated by construction debris, causing further inconvenience to residents. “For years, construction materials were dumped into the drains. We repeatedly requested the engineers to clear them, but they ignored us,” lamented another resident.
Street lighting is another area where residents have faced persistent issues. “There were no streetlights in many parts of Rukminigaon until a few weeks ago. After constant follow-ups, the authorities installed a few, but large portions of the ward remain in darkness. It’s unsafe, especially for women and children returning home late in the evening,” highlighted Juri Phukan, a resident of Rukminigaon.
“Ongoing construction projects in the ward have further disrupted daily life. Without proper planning, temporary passages were not created, forcing commuters to take detours via the Six Mile flyover or the Supermarket route. This has led to increased travel time and severe traffic congestion. The authorities should have ensured a smooth flow of traffic and access to shops before starting the construction. Instead, they’ve left us to deal with the chaos,” expressed another frustrated resident.
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